Monday, November 24, 2008

Window Gaps, or HOW DID I NOT SEE THIS?

We've been installing the exterior window trim this week, and so have been paying a lot of up close and personal attention to the windows. While working on the kitchen window (a window that we have never opened and that is partially blocked by a kitchen cart), I noticed something peculiar:

Yes, that IS a half inch wide gap between the sashes. And yes, it is there even when the lock is turned. And yes, I could feel the cold air rushing out of it into our kitchen, even on a 50 degree day! What in the world is it doing there?

A better look at the sash lock:

The top part has been mortised into the top sash at a diagonal. How odd! It almost appears that the entire bottom of the top sash is a replacement in the wrong size... but why?

I stuffed some of that foam insulation tubing into the gap; any better ideas for winter? And.. what in the world should I do about that window in the long run? My goals are to rehab the windows... but this particular window is throwing quite a curve on many levels. (We discovered today that the frame is rotting in places; the bottom sash has metal squares bolted onto it for stability, so it is obviously a little unsound there; and no this!).

5 comments:

I got out this weekend and closed all the storm windows and resealed them. It made a solid 10 degree difference in the house. Especially in the breakfast nook that has wrap around windows. But before I did this, I checked the windows and they were blowing in so much cold air that they might as well have been open. I would suggest a storm window, they run about $60 at the home centers. At least until you get your windows refurbed.

I was gonna say the same thing as Alan--shrink-wrap that entire window, putting the tape on the outside edge of the window trim so the whole thing's encased. That's what I did with my bathroom window, which has no storm window, and so far this year I've used the space heater in the bathroom once--and there's no HVAC in there.

Well, you don't necessarily have to replace the sash. Next summer take a real good look at your other windows to see how this one differs. You can probably "remanufacture" it to make it fit together. It will probably involve sistering a piece onto that upper frame to fill in the gap.

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